As Bengaluru Traffic Police push for carpooling to reduce severe congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), industry representatives say behavioural changes alone will not solve the city’s worsening traffic crisis.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police recently identified uniform office timings along the ORR as a major reason for daily vehicular gridlocks and suggested carpooling as a key solution.
However, representatives from companies operating on the tech corridor argued that public transport and infrastructure improvements must come first.
Companies seek better public transport
Manas Das said behavioural change cannot happen without reliable transport systems.
He pointed out that employees work across multiple time zones and follow different work models, making sudden commuting changes difficult.
According to him, Bengaluru urgently needs smaller BMTC buses that can enter tech parks, 24-hour bus services, safer bus shelters, pothole-free roads, and stronger last-mile connectivity.
Staggered office timings still a concern
Industry representative Krishna Kumar said many employees already practise carpooling, but companies need to introduce incentives to encourage wider adoption.
He added that staggered office timings, long discussed as a traffic solution, are still not being properly implemented by several major firms on the ORR.
Officials and industry stakeholders also believe that allowing some employees to continue working from home could significantly reduce congestion levels.
Carpooling rules still pending
Meanwhile, Karnataka is yet to finalise guidelines for organised carpooling services.
Ramalinga Reddy said the state government has not stopped people from carpooling but clarified that official regulations must come from the Central government.
He stated that issues related to private vehicle usage, tracking systems, and high-security number plates fall under national transport regulations and require uniform guidelines across India.